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Girl Guides Australia (1926 - )

From
1926
Australia
Alternative Names
  • Girl Guides Association of Australia Incorporated
Website
http://www.girlguides.org.au
Location
Suite 1, 460 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010 PO Box 6, Strawberry Hills, NSW 2012.

Summary

The first meeting of the Girl Guides Association of Australia Incorporated was held in Melbourne in 1926. The formation of this national body came over a decade after the first guides group was formed in Tasmania, the Girl Peace Scouts. Other states quickly followed and by the time a national body was established, all states in Australia had guides groups.

The Association celebrated their seventy-fifth birthday in 1985 and at that time had approximately 100,000 members.

Details

In Tasmania Girl Peace Scouts, corresponding with the organisation of the same name in New Zealand, were formed as early as 1909-10, while in New South Wales the Australian League of Girl Aids, recognised in affiliation with the Boy Scouts Association, was formed at the same time. In Victoria, the Florence Nightingale Girl Aids were established in 1909, and recognised as Baden-Powell Girl Guides in 1911. Guiding in Western Australia began in 1915 at a public meeting in Perth Town Hall under the sponsorship of the Women's Service Guild.

Some of these groups were later disbanded with the outbreak of World War I in 1914, but many reformed and were then officially registered as branches of the British association. In the early days these separate groups did not know of each other's existence, because of our great distances and the scarcity of detailed records. Few of these were kept because the pioneers of Guiding did not realise the significance of what they were establishing, nor what a vast movement it would become.

Eventually each state became organised, setting up a headquarters, forming a state executive and appointing a state commissioner. Tasmania was first in 1911 followed by South Australia in 1913, Western Australia in 1915, Queensland in 1919, New South Wales in 1920 and Victoria in 1921.

In 2004, Guides Australia described its mission as: 'Helping girls and young women grow into confident, self-respecting, responsible community member.'

All Australian Guides, youth and adults, make the same Promise, use the same Laws, and wear the same badge. (The words on the badge say Guides Australia)

Guide Promise
I promise that I will do my best,
to do my duty to God,
to serve the Queen and my Country,
to help other people and to keep the Guide Law.
The Guide Laws

A Guide is loyal and can be trusted

A Guide is helpful

A Guide is polite and considerate

A Guide is friendly and a sister to all Guides

A Guide is kind to animals and respects all living things

A Guide is obedient

A Guides has courage and is cheerful in all difficulties

A Guide makes good use of her time

A Guide takes care of her own possessions and those of other people

A Guide is self-controlled in all she thinks says and does

Related entries

Related Women

Archival resources

Archives Office of Tasmania

  • Girl Guides Association [of Tasmania], 1910 - 1970, NS 542; Girl Guides Australia (1926 - ); Archives Office of Tasmania. Details

Australian Historic Records Register

  • Ajana Girl Guides and Brownies: community organisation records, 1956 - 1974, 2008; Australian Historic Records Register. Details
  • Girl Guides Association (NSW) ACT: community organisation records, 1926 - 1988, 3236; Australian Historic Records Register. Details
  • Girl Guides Association of Australia Incorporated: community organisation records, 1924 - 1987, 2418; Australian Historic Records Register. Details
  • Girl Guides Association, Gympie District: community organisation records, 20; Australian Historic Records Register. Details
  • Girl Guides Association, WA (Inc.), 1915 - 1987, 2980; Girl Guides Australia (1926 - ); Australian Historic Records Register. Details

Australian War Memorial Research Centre

  • Members of the Girl Guides Association (South Australia) working in the depot, P00951.001; The Advertiser Krischok Photo; Australian War Memorial Research Centre. Details

Geelong Heritage Centre, Geelong City Council

  • Geelong Kindergarten Girl Guides Company, 1930 - 1938, GRS 630; Girl Guides Australia (1926 - ); Geelong Heritage Centre, Geelong City Council. Details
  • Girl Guides Association of Victoria. Aberdeen Street, Geelong, Vic. Branch, 1925 - 1970, GRS 1440; Girl Guides Australia (1926 - ); Geelong Heritage Centre, Geelong City Council. Details
  • Girl Guides Association of Victoria. St John's Branch, 1938 - 1969, GRS 1402; Geelong Heritage Centre, Geelong City Council. Details

JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia

  • Collection of material relating to the Girl Guides Association of Western Australia, 1977- - , PR10696; JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. Details
  • Interview with Alison Cairns [sound recording], OH2553/5; JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. Details
  • Interview with Daphne Foulkes-Taylor [sound recording], OH2553/21; JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. Details
  • [Interview with Ethel Moore [sound recording], OH2553/23; JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. Details
  • Interview with Gwen Mellowship [sound recording, OH2553/12; JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. Details
  • Interview with Joan McLean [sound recording], OH2553/11; JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. Details
  • Interview with Kathleen Baird [sound recording], OH2553/1; JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. Details
  • Interview with Kathleen Brockway [sound recording]; JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. Details
  • Interview with Lorna Cooper [sound recording], OH2553/19; JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. Details
  • Interview with Marjorie Blyth [sound recording], OH2553/4; JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. Details
  • Interview with Pamela McGregor [sound recording], OH2553/13; JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. Details
  • Interview with Rev. Lee Edwards [sound recording], OH2553/20; JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. Details
  • Recording of an interview with the Kendenup LV Oborne Guides and Brownies [sound recording], OH198; JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. Details
  • Records of the Bedford Park Scouts and Guides, 1960 - 1991, MN 1796/ACC 5372A; JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. Details

National Library of Australia Newspaper Microcopy Reading Room

  • [Biographical cuttings on Eleanor Manning, former Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides]; National Library of Australia Newspaper Microcopy Reading Room. Details

National Library of Australia Oral History Collection

  • [Conversation with Margaret Curtis-Otter] [sound recording] / [interviewer: Hazel de Berg]., ORAL DeB 906-907; National Library of Australia Oral History Collection. Details

State Library of New South Wales

  • Cutler family - papers, 1909-1995, 1909 - 1995, MLMSS 7151/1-32/10; State Library of New South Wales. Details
  • You can't help liking them [motion picture], NSL:F B4830*; State Library of New South Wales. Details

State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana

  • George Woodroffe Goyder, 1874 - 1971, PRG 491; State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana. Details
  • Grace Margaret Lewis, 1898 - 1968, PRG 254; State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana. Details
  • Guides SA Oral History Project, 1980 - 2001, OH 610; State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana. Details
  • Guides South Australia, 1927 - 1967, SRG 745; State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana. Details
  • Interview with Aileen Bond [sound recording] Interviewer: Yvonne Abbott, 1985, SRG 438/29/20; Bond, Aileen (1898 - ); State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana. Details
  • Interview with Elma Sandford-Morgan [sound recording] Interviewer: Aileen Bond, 1982, SRG 438/29/30; Sandford-Morgan, Elma (1890 - 1983); State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana. Details
  • Interview with Elsie Haselgrove [sound recording] Interviewer: Yvonne Abbott, 1988, SRG 438/29/11; Haselgrove, Elsie (1903 - ); State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana. Details
  • Interview with Lorna Adams [sound recording] Interviewer: Neil Baron, OH 326/7; State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana. Details
  • Letters received by Ellie Wemyss, 1901 - 1948, PRG 91/4; State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana. Details
  • Marion Sinclair Records, 1900 - 1988, PRG 670; State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana. Details
  • Papers relating to Girl Guides, 1929 - 1933, D 6920(Misc); State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana. Details
  • Recording of the Forty-fifth Anniversary Meeting of the Adelaide Trefoil Guild [sound recording], 1990, OH 165; State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana. Details

Published resources

Books

  • Bagster, Mary, Mrs Sylvia Ringrose, O.B.E., State Commissioner, 1955-1960: A movement with a purpose, Girl Guides Association (Queensland, Australia), Herston, 1992, 22 pp. Details
  • Clark, Helen and Alan Clark, Guiding in Nowra, the First 60 Years, Girl Guides Australia, Nowra, 1985, 24 pp. Details
  • Coleman, Margaret and Darling Honor, From a flicker to a flame : the story of the Girl Guides in Australia, Girl Guides of Australia Incorporated, Sydney, 1989, 229 pp. Details
  • Coleman, Margaret and Honor Darling, Blue and gold, the story told: A brief history of the Girl Guides Association in Australia, Girl Guides Association of Australia, Sydney, 1986, 49 pp. Details
  • Holland, Mavis, Mrs Honour Burcher, M.B.E., State Commissioner, 1960-1965 :the challenging sixties /researched by Margaret Sycamore ; compiled by Mavis Holland., Girl Guides Association (Queensland, Australia), Herston, 1992, 23 pp. Details
  • Lowrie, Jessie, Memories of guiding and scouting days: Northampton & elsewhere, J. Lowrie, Geraldton, 1995, 128 pp. Details
  • Milesi, A. J., Index [to] Guiding in W.A., Paterson Brokensha, Perth, 1963?, 20 pp. Details
  • Miller, Joy, Promises Made & Promises Kept: A History of Guiding in Western Australia, Guides Western Australia,, Perth, 2000, 122 pp. Details
  • Quartermaine, Mavis, Goldfields Girl Guides: A history of the movement in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder district, Eastern Goldfields Historical Society, Kalgoorlie, 1989, 60 pp. Details
  • Quartermaine, Mavis, Guiding on the Goldfields: A history of the movement in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder district, Guides Western Australia, Goldfields Region, Kalgoorlie, 1997, 51 pp. Details
  • Swinburne, G.H., Among the first people, 1908-1936: The Baden-Powell Girl Guide Movement in Australia, Girl Guides Association of Australia, Sydney, 1978, 72 pp. Details
  • Torney, Wilma, Mrs Mary Moore, M.B.E., State Commissioner, 1971-1976 :the progressive seventies /researched by Margaret Sycamore ; compiled by Wilma Torney. Publication Details [Herston, Qld.] :Girl Guides Association (Queensland, Australia),1992., Girl Guides Association (Queensland, Australia), Herston, 1992, 22 pp. Details
  • Warneke, Nola, Mrs Janette Gibson, A.M., State Commissioner, 1981-1986 :building for the future /researched by Jean Percy ; compiled by Nola Warneke., Girl Guides Association (Queensland, Australia), Herston, 1992. Details
  • Warneke, Nola, Mrs Joan Guthrie, State Commissioner, 1965-1970 :the challenging sixties /researched by Margaret Sycamore ; compiled by Nola Warneke., Girl Guides Association (Queensland, Australia), Herston, 1992, 27 pp. Details
  • Williams, Meta, Mrs Lilian Gresham, M.B.E., State Commissioner, 1945-1954 :the post-war reconstruction era /researched by Meta Williams ; compiled by Meta Williams., Girl Guides Association (Queensland, Australia), Herston, 1992, 63 pp. Details
  • Williams, Meta, Mrs Joie Dwyer, State Commissioner, 1986-1991 :challenge and achievement /researched by Meta Williams ; compiled by Meta Williams., Girl Guides Association (Queensland, Australia), Herston, 1992, 33 pp. Details
  • Williams, Meta (researched and compiled by), Mrs Meta Williams, OBE, State Commissioner, 1976-1981: the progressive seventies, Girl Guides Association (Queensland, Australia), [Herston, Qld], 1992, 55 pp. Details
  • Wilson, Winifred, Guiding in W.A., Paterson Brokensha, Perth, [1963?], 128 pp. Details

Booklets

  • Leach, Sheila A., A history of guiding in the Geraldton area, 1917-1986, 1986, 12 pp. Details

Edited Books

  • Gough, K.R. and G. Beal (eds), A story of scouting in Western Australia, 1908-1930: With a short account of guiding in the same period, Paterson's Printing Press, Perth, 1931, 32 pp. Details

Magazines

  • The State magazine for Girl Guides of South Australia, Girl Guides Association of South Australia, Adelaide, 1924. Details
  • The South Australian Girl Guide Magazine, Girl Guides Association of South Australia, Adelaide, 1926-?. Details
  • The Waratah: The official magazine of the Girl Guides Association (New South Wales), Girl Guides Association (New South Wales), Sydney, 1926?-1980. Details
  • Adventuring: Official organ of the Girl Guides Association of South Australia, The Association, 1939-1979. Details

Newsletters

  • Matilda: An official treasure bag of guiders' information for Guiders of Victoria, Australia, Girl Guides Association, Victoria, Melbourne, 1923-. Details
  • The Scout & Guide Courier, Boy Scouts Association, W.A. Section [in association with] Girl Guides Association, W.A. Section., Perth, 1931-1938. Details
  • Guiding in Australia/Gia: Guiding in Australia, The Association, Sydney, 1980-1994. Details
  • Guide lines / Girl Guide Association, Western Australia, Sylvia Perry Divisio, The Division, Geraldton, 1983-. Details
  • Focus on Guiding / Girl Guides, Girl Guides Association of Western Australia, Perth, 1991-. Details

Newspapers

  • The Woozle: The South Australian Girl Guides' own newspaper, Girl Guides Association of South Australia, Adelaide, 1929-1932. Details

Reports

  • Girl Guides Association of Australia, Annual Report, 1965-. Details
  • Girl Guides Association of South Australia. Thrift Campaign., Annual report and balance sheet / Girl Guides Thrift Campaign, Girl Guides Association, Adelaide, 1939-1945. Details
  • Girl Guides Association of Western Australia/Guides Western Australia Inc., Annual Report, 1936-. Details
  • The Girl Guides Association South Australia/Guides South Australia., Annual Report, 1923-. Details

Online Resources

See also

  • Guides Victoria (ed.), Communicating, Guides Victoria, 1996. Details

Jane Carey

Created: 20 February 2004, Last modified: 11 December 2007

Comments

I am trying to find a brownie/girl guide group for my 6 yr old daughter. We live in Balmain, Sydney. Any info you can give me regarding this would be much appreciated.

Jane Eastwood - 3 July 2010, 10:38 AM EST

You'll need to contact the Guides directly for this information. Click on the link to the website (above) and you'll find contact details.

AWAP Administrator - 16 July 2010, 9:49 AM EST

Hi there,
I'm trying to find a girl's guide for my 5yr old daughter. We live in Winston hIlls. Any info will be greately appreciated.

mihui kim - 15 August 2010, 6:04 PM EST

As noted in the comments above, you need to contact the Girl Guides organisation directly.

AWAP Administrator - 20 August 2010, 8:55 AM EST

i am 10 i am looking a place to register and become a girl guide plz help me!

ruby - 6 September 2010, 6:46 PM EST

As noted in the comments above, you need to contact the Girl Guides organisation directly.

AWAP Administrator - 8 September 2010, 10:43 AM EST

I was awarded the Queen's Guide in 1962(I think) and am intrigued as to what tests need to be passed to qualify.
I do know I attained the Patrol Leader's camp permit, Wood Badge, Little house emblem and All round Cords. What did all these entail?

wendy wagstaff - 19 February 2011, 4:23 PM EST

Hopefully someone can offer you some advice, Wendy.

AWAP Administrator - 21 February 2011, 3:10 PM EST

I've purchased 6 pastry /cake forks with the Girl Guide emblem and Victoria underneath that..I'd like to find out more about them..why were they produced /when/ who for.. etc.
They are a birthday present for my grand daughter who is a Girl Guide and a keen cake maker.

duttie - 10 May 2011, 7:34 AM EST

Duttie,
You need to contact the organisation itself.Its address is listed above.

AWAP Administrator - 12 May 2011, 12:33 PM EST

trying to locate pictures or deteails concerning first girl guide in Gosford NSW named Janice Spooner approx.l 1953

janice turner - 8 October 2011, 9:02 AM EST

Hopefully, someone can help you, but you need to contact the organisation itself.

AWAP Administrator - 13 October 2011, 12:29 PM EST

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